*subject to change

Over and out...

2004-06-04T10:43:00.000+10:00

Well, guys... the end is nigh. I'm off to Sydney tomorrow to become an Uncle (finally!!) and really start knuckling down on assignments without the distractions of home. Yeah, sure... you could say Sydney may offer more distractions (babies, alcohol, long-time-unseen friends...), but shhh... I'm tryin' to think positive here!

I'm not sure the thoughts in my brain have really translated well to my Blog in regard to actual research and the precise focus for my essay, but I suppose the lack of online academic resources on music fan reviews and criticism has kind of held my sharing ability back a little. I've read a few articles and kind of know where I'm headed (in my mind) but I regret not being able to share that fully with you all.

Anyhoo... Good luck to everyone with the assignments (both MSTU2000 and others) and enjoy your holidays!

Stay tuned for afterthoughts... Trust me, I always have afterthoughts.

Example of Fan Criticism (and criticism thereof...)

2004-06-01T00:11:00.000+10:00

I was just doing a search of old fan review threads posted on the Kylie Minogue fan community (SayHey) and thought I'd share a little gem with you all. It's a review of Kylie's Body Language album, written by a fan just one day after joining the forum back in November. It can be viewed in full here, but you can get the general idea from this excerpt:

"...overall the album is very much average, lacking a very much needed killer stand out track. the album doesnt progress well from 'fever', you get the impression this should have been released in 4 - 6 years time, and there is an album in between it and 'fever' that is missing. Kylie fails miserably to convince you its actually her on the album, it just screams a very laid back and somewhat medoicre attempt at a follow up 'fever', with the US market written all over it. 'fever mark 2' would have gone down a treat."

It's hard not to see the attempt at a "professional" review here (despite the lack of grammar) but what is interesting (read: hilarious) is the single, blunt response the poster received:

"You don't know how to review this album. I'm sick of hearing people's instant reviews of BL, here and in the papers. It's a grower stupid."

It's little wonder the reviewer's time on SayHey didn't continue past a single day - it seems he was scared off by someone much higher up in the food chain.

Fan Critics - Interesting Quote...

2004-05-26T23:56:00.000+10:00

I was reading through Henry Jenkins' Textual Poachers today, and thought I'd share an interesting quote with which he introduces a chapter on Fan Critics. It's about Star Trek, but I think the underlying point is clear and without a doubt related to the way that online pop music communities criticise artists and musical directions.

"Many of us who are fans of Star Trek enjoy Star Trek despite its faults, not because we think Star Trek is perfect and not because we do not think it cannot be improved. To criticise Star Trek, then, means that we enjoy Star Trek enough to want it to be the best it can be, and we wish to point out flaws in the hope of improvement (that is, to learn from mistakes, rather than to pretend they do not exist). If we didn't care, we wouldn't criticise." (Joan Marie Verba, quoted in Jenkins 86)

It's hardly rocket science, but the quote definitely articulates a common trait among music fans - it's personal opinion that creates the tension among individuals in these communities, but is this such a bad thing?

By the way, I can't stand Star Trek - I'm a Star Wars geek myself.

Dammit, now I'm addicted to Quizzes...

2004-05-26T10:40:00.000+10:00

Thanks to my last entry, I'm now in "quiz mode" and thought I'd share with you all which Transformer I am. Nothing whatsoever to do with music, but hey... I'm back into Transformers big time, and Mum always told me to share.

You Are Ratchet!

You are caring and compassionate.

Which Transformer Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

"An Appreciative Fan"

2004-05-26T10:17:00.000+10:00

Well, since I don't appear to be attending this morning's lecture due to the unfortunate balancing act required in the last two weeks of semester (and impending unclehood, for which I'm travelling to Sydney), I figure I should at least do something...

...so, I did Triple J's quiz ("What Sort of Fan are You?"), found on Andrew's Blog.

As it turns out, I'm an "Appreciative Fan":

You've got nothing to prove. You like exploring new music. Your remarkably creative point of view lets you enjoy all sorts of tunes - whatever makes you move and groove. You're passionate about music but you like to have a life outside of it. You don't chase fame but if you do meet a band you can easily charm them with your open, personal style. You're the kind of fan that bands love buying them beers. Hell, they might even spot the odd one back your way. Just don't tell them about your passion for plaster casting private parts and you'll be fine.

I like that answer. Suits me well, I think... although I'm not so sure about the plaster-casting. Curious idea, though. Maybe I'll ask the Live boys next time they're in town.

New Media & Popular Music Criticism

2004-05-25T18:30:00.000+10:00

For anyone interested in new media and music criticism (as I am), Steve Jones has written a fantastic - and extremely readable - piece, titled "Popular Music, Media, and the Written Word". As an introduction to a collection of essays titled Pop Music and the Press, the piece looks at attitudes toward rock music criticism and touches on a number of issues concerning new media and online fan communities - noting that new media "may be a proving ground for aspiring critics.... [where] the boundaries between fans and critics are blurred as never before".

If anyone's interested, here's some reviews and chapter information as well.

Attention: All students doing the Film & TV major...

2004-05-25T17:46:00.000+10:00

Just another little side-thought (since I'm kinda good at those):

I have just one course left in my Film & Television major, now that Scriptwriting has been added to the list (nice surprise, as I did it last year), and I'm keen on doing more creative electives for my final semester. As such, I need to choose between From Buddha to Bruce Lee and Film & History (which, I must admit, sounds a tad boring).

Has anybody studied either of these and, if so, what were the pros and cons, in your opinion?

I could always give Australian Cinema a go, but I won't for two reasons: my opinion of Australian films is pretty low in general; and no more Alan McKee! I'm really cut about that today, aren't I?

Anyway, I've studied enough enjoyable courses (and done better in them as a result) to know I don't want to waste my last semester with dry, uninteresting ones.

And off I go...

2004-05-25T14:14:00.000+10:00

Thanks to Jean, I've come across an academic I can almost guarantee is going to whet my appetite for fan theory surrounding "popular" culture. For anyone who misses Alan McKee's brilliant teaching style now that he's abandoned us for the "real world" university (as opposed to our "ideal world" one... and the other, "Coles New World" one...), Henry Jenkins seems to have much the same approach to ideas of popular culture and the academic snobbery that often accompanies it.

While I've only scanned the page so far, I was attracted to Jenkins' style of thought by this quote:

When I first began studying media in graduate school, I was enormously frustrated with academic representations of media consumption, because their vision of isolated, passive, and ideologically vulnerable consumers were so at odds with my highly social, engaged, empowered, and creative experiences as a fan.

I look forward to reading more and hope this may be of use to anyone else studying popular fan cultures.

Everyone's a critic...

2004-05-20T12:07:00.000+10:00

Going over my rather heated online discussion with Kylie fans on the SayHey fan forum (discussed previously), and after continued consideration of my initially difficult essay focus, I thought I'd share the following gem with you all. It's written by a fan, yet it articulates an important aspect of online music communities and one which I want to look at more closely for the assignment: the idea that global access to media and each other has made everyone a critic.

"Since people start[ed] reading about and discussing music on the Internet, it seems that everyone thinks he's a rock critic. Certainly, much of this comes from the fact that we have easy access to virtually everything that real critics say about music, but it also has to do with the fact that we're exchanging views with other people just like us: laymen. This tends to give people the impression that they know and understand both critical and consumer consensus.

Think about it: how many times have we seen people on the Internet, and in particular on this site, bickering with one another over the critical or public reception of a music project? Often, people make bold sales predictions, cite statistics or use cliches from the world of contemporary music criticism. Ten years ago, can you imagine a normal person describing a new pop track as "uninspired," "forgettable," "her latest effort," or "Britney/Christina/Kylie/Janet in top form"? Certainly, these terms reflect sentiments that are not new, but the casual use of "critic speak" is a more recent development.

Similarly, concepts in pop music that were once considered fairly advanced are now the domain of laymen. I'll hurl if I hear one more person going on about how an artist is a "brand" rather than a person, or speculating that some minor action on the part of an artist of label is a publicity stunt. In many cases, people discussing these ideas use identical language, such as "millions of dollars in free publicity" or "keeping her name in the papers.""

If anyone has any opinions on this, or knows where I might find more academic evidence of this kind of fan criticism, let me know.

Ah, John Mayer... ya gotta love him...

2004-05-14T17:34:00.000+10:00

As much as this post is in no way related to my essay research, I just could resist linking you guys to this article, looking at John Mayer's upcoming first music column for Esquire magazine.

I dunno what it is about this guy, but he's fast become my favourite artist of the moment. Maybe it's his unashamed honesty that appeals to me, as evidenced in his brilliantly visual lyrics, but saying he's "missed too many episodes to follow the plot" - regarding The Beatles, of all people - is just classic. Besides, he's kinda stupid-looking, so that makes his opinions "credible", right? Erm... right?

Off to a slow start...

2004-05-12T19:18:00.000+10:00

Well, with a few little bumps in the road so far (as mentioned in "What a difference a change in genre can make..."), I'm happy to say I've at least gained some responses from two people that might be considered quite high up in the heirarchy of Kylie Minogue fandom.

While it doesn't seem that the somewhat... how should I say... emotional Kylie fans have a great deal of influence upon her marketing and image, the responses so far have been interesting nonetheless.

From ex-Festival Mushroom Records employee, Lawrence, I've learned that "a certain Austereo personality uses [SayHey] for her on-air stories", as well as some logical reasons why these fans might be a little too involved to have much impact.

From Limbo webmaster Neil Rees, I got this great quote regarding the use of the community:

"To my knowledge most people who work directly with Kylie know about SayHey and have checked it out - to differing degrees - but they don't 'use' it directly to form decisions. There seems to be a general opinion about 'the infamous SayHey' - that it's really hardcore, and great entertainment, and if you want strong opinions then this is the place to check out. But they all know that its also best to steer clear if you want a 'general view' of something!"

On the other hand, Neil suggests that there have been the odd "low key releases" that have been influenced by the online community. These have included reissues of older - somewhat 'cultish' releases such as Kylie Minogue (originalled released in 1994) and Impossible Princess (1998). In cases such as these, he says, "people who actually use this board [have been] involved in [the releases, and] obviously had a much greater influence".

Now, how I'll use this information and where it might steer me in terms of a direct focus is beyond me at this point. Any suggestions would be great... Jean?

Online Marketing Strategies - 'Music Week' Article

2004-05-10T20:38:00.000+10:00

Despite the general consensus so far on Kylie forum SayHey (see previous post) that record companies don't listen to online community discussions and don't care, I have found an online journal article in our trusty Library database that offers evidence to the contrary.

Titled "New Online Marketers' Tactics Prove a Hit With Fans", the article gives a good overview of online marketing, with case studies of Toploader, Cradle Of Filth, Peter Gabriel and (Robbie Williams' flatmate, best friend and unsuccessful pop wannabe) Jonathon Wilkes. Author Adam Woods claims that, "there are lots of [online music] communities out there and you just have to tap into the right ones... You have to look at ISP portals and fan sites to discover what sort of fans congregate there. For Kylie, you might target mainstream sites like MSN, but for Gorillaz and Radiohead you would go for more underground sites".

To read the article, you'll need to log in to the UQ server here, which will take you to the Infotrac database. Click on 'Expanded Academic' and do a search for article #A70979196 or simply search the title. Obviously, this is only accessible to fellow UQ students... Sorry to anyone else reading this.

What a difference a change in genre can make...

2004-05-10T13:03:00.000+10:00

Well... after a successful study of Live fans, for which I had an overwhelmingly positive response, my attempt at studying the online community of Kylie Minogue fans is already proving to be a difficult and argumentative exercise.

Having been a member of SayHey for over 2 years now, I've become accustomed to a certain level of bitchiness amongst Kylie fans. Read what you will into this, but I might go as far as saying this has something to do with the vast difference in demographics between a rock artist and a pop artist with as long a career as Kylie Minogue.

While no doubt expressing a little more of my personality than I might be entirely comfortable with, feel free to view the posts as they unfold, here and here. Be warned, however, that SayHey is by no means an "academic" discussion board and my "typically Arian" nature is on show. As my friends so often tell me, though, "it isn't arrogance... it's confidence".

Enjoy.

And in other news... Flatmate wanted, quite desperately!

2004-05-07T18:54:00.000+10:00

This is no doubt about as way off track on an academic research blog as I can possibly go, but if anyone knows anybody at all that needs accomodation for 6 weeks from May 20, please send them in my direction! I'm desperate!

As if an overdue essay, 7 more assignments this month, work commitments and a pregnant sister in Sydney about to burst aren't enough, I've just been informed that I need to move on July 5th. In some strange, irrational form of logic, my current flatmate has seen this as a "crisis" and will be jumping ship in under 2 weeks. This, my friends, is not good. Apparently, this flatmate - sourced from an ad asking for "reliable" people - has a "military mind" and says it is his instinct to move on immediately. Strange, but true, it seems... our military teach people to run when confronted with a trivial crisis at two months' notice. Scary thought for our nation's security.

So, yeah, enough rambling... Bottom line is this: I have a main bedroom with ensuite, built-ins, pool and all that good stuff going for $130 per week. Six weeks only, May 20 to July 5.

Email me at Kane.UQ@bigpond.com if you're interested.

Ms Burgess, you deserve our utmost respect... or perhaps a hobbie...

2004-05-06T17:51:00.000+10:00

How on Earth do you manage to peruse our blogs every day, or even every second day?! I just looked at every single one up so far and I swear my eyes have glazed over and my brain hurts!

You're either crazy or one passionate academic! Now, everybody, a round of applause for Jean's efforts... It makes ours seem utterly insignificant in comparison.

Time to get serious...

2004-05-06T15:44:00.000+10:00

Okay, people, we're 3 weeks into these Weblogs and it's time to figure out a definite topic for Assignment #2.

As mentioned in a previous post titled "Thinking, thinking..." and in the comments section on the course Weblog, I'm considering a look at an online community based around pop music, and how discussions amongst members can influence the marketing, production, distribution and image of a particular artist.

While I know from experience that this is happening more and more in this age of the internet, finding research material may prove far more difficult than I'm hoping. One example - which I seriously doubt I'll use - are the online fans of Darren Hayes. Recently, these seemingly over-adoring fans were invited to attend organised "listening parties" to hear the ex-Savage Garden frontman's new CD 'The Tension & The Spark'. Many of these parties were attended by the star himself and reports quickly made there way online, despite a high level of secrecy about the forthcoming album.

I understand many of you dislike pop music - for whatever reason, if only due to its social stigma - but I think it could be an interesting area of study and I'd be interested to hear your opinions.

UPDATE: More reviews of the Darren Hayes listening parties may be found here.

Making your Weblog all pretty-like!

2004-05-05T21:28:00.000+10:00

This one's just a post to give you guys studying MSTU2000 this little link to a site full of colour-codes...

I've been fooling around with a new template myself and, while not up yet, I thought I'd just give you all a little hint: Download a new skin from Blogskins, open it in the browser, then go to "View" (along the browser menu), then "Source". This will show the HTML code for that skin... Now all you gotta do is have a play! Find the bits of code that represent a colour, for instance, and type in a new colour code. Save changes and hit "Refresh" to see what you did!

I found this kind of harmless playing the best way to get my head around HTML so far... Just don't do it to your Blog template until you're confident!

Good luck!

In the eternal words of Homer J. Simpson... "In case you didn't realise, I was being sarcastic"

2004-05-02T19:58:00.000+10:00

Just to clear things up a little, my previous post regarding Holly Valance was based purely on the definition given of "alternative" music by About.com.

It was never intended to actually claim that Holly Valance - nor Kylie Minogue, for that matter - should actually be considered alternative artists. If anything, I'm mocking the whole concept of alternative music, just as U2 did when they won a Grammy in that category for 'Zooropa'. It's a vague term that means very little, except perhaps "non-pop" - in fact, it's quite likely to be one of the most superficial words in current music discourse (in my opinion, anyway).

As for the comparisons so often made between "pop" and "alternative" music, a point made by a Britney-fan friend of mine is this: "Is it really better to be counterfeit meaningful than genuine meaningless?"

Jack Johnson, Jet, John Butler Trio go 'Pop'? Holly Valance: 'Alternative Music' Superstar?

2004-04-29T20:06:00.000+10:00

Just a final thought for tonight regarding the constantly amusing battle between "pop" and "alternative" music...

I found a curious definition of alternative music on About.com that defines it as follows: "In it's purest sense, Alternative Music is the opposite of Pop music (i.e. whatever is on the Popular music charts)."

The current ARIA chart lists Jack Johnson, Jet and The John Butler Trio (Triple J pun unintended) in Australia's current top 20. Meanwhile, the most recent Holly Valance release, "State of Mind", is nowhere to be found on the chart.

In the term's "purest sense", then, it is Holly Valance that is now "alternative". One fan site even refers to her album as a "critically acclaimed cult success". But isn't she the so-called "pop" artist here?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think this goes to show how the terms "alternative" and "pop" are in a constant state of flux. While my tongue is placed firmly in cheek with this post, the idea of traditionally-pop music as an alternative is not without merit - it simply relates to what exactly it's an alternative to.

As for Holly Valance, people may be surprised at the amount of debate that goes on about this album - like Kylie Minogue's "Impossible Princess" before it, the lack of commercial success may end up offering some lasting appeal.

What is it about 'Pop'?

2004-04-29T19:18:00.000+10:00

In reference to a comment left on a previous entry, I thought I'd take this opportunity to put forth my never-ending argument regarding 'alternative' and 'pop' music - one which is sure to fire people up and, believe me, I welcome it. In the comment, John said, "don't you hate it when people reject pop and give you that look if you say you're into it?" I agree completely and, yeah, it does kind of irritate me, but I'm used to it. Besides, my taste in music is not limited to Kylie Minogue, the Spice Girls or Madonna. While still "chart" stuff, I like Linkin Park, Eminem and Live equally as much, as well as dance producers such as BT (don't call him a "DJ").

It's always amused me to see so-called 'alternative' musicians (that everyone just so happens to listen to, and are on the very same commercial record labels) criticising 'pop' music. As mentioned in an early reading for our course, if it wasn't for the profits gained from the major pop artists, labels may not be able to promote the smaller, 'independent' bands.

In my eyes, there's a place for all types of music, be it pop, classical, heavy metal... or that bacteria-in-a-petrie-dish music Jean mentioned in the 3pm tutorial this week.

While I don't have the quotes on hand, I actually recall an interview with REM's Michael Stipe, in which the interviewer was quite blatently trying to get him to say something negative about today's pop music... and Stipe simply would not bite. In fact, he admitted to liking pop and listening to - I could be wrong - The Partridge Family, as a teen. Unfortunately, not all artists are so open.

It makes me wonder who's really narrow-minded and conformist - the 'alternative' artist that insists on mocking the 'pop' act for not being what they personally believe a musician 'should' be; or the light-hearted individual/s taking an opportunity and enjoying the ride (as almost anyone in their right mind would do), regardless of criticism? Personally, I like both - for very different reasons - but would have to say the former as the answer to my question.

What I find disheartening is when a band like Powderfinger seek attention by mocking the credibility of an act like Bardot onstage (ARIA Awards, 2000). In my eyes, Bardot themselves (as individual performers) were no less credible than the groups of singers and dancers who auditioned for the stage production of 'The Lion King', 'Les Miserables' or other such shows. At the end of the day, the songs and style were pre-manufactured, the positions were filled, and the audiences were marketed to. Whether or not you like the final result is insignificant and value judgements must be carefully thought out before being carelessly made. While it is your prerogative to dislike the music, any criticism should simply be grounded in more than simple taste and/or opinion. What you may hate may make somebody else extremely happy, and therefore it deserves respect. The myth of what is "real" music is nothing more than a personal opinion at best.

It's enough to bring a tear to a man's eye...

2004-04-29T18:18:00.000+10:00

Well, as I consider my topic for Assignment #2, I might as well keep talking about the first assignment.

Just yesterday, I got the courage to post my analysis of the Live fan subculture on the hub of fan activity itself - Straight Outta York - and kind of expected to get blasted for it. After all, people seem to have an intrinsic dislike of being analysed and don't enjoy words such as "typical" and "average".

Low and behold, however, I got responses like these that made it all worthwhile, no matter what mark I get:

"I had warm, tingly and head floating feelings reading this -just from knowing that this is what I am apart of and what I have gained from being here on SOY, going to the concerts, meeting the boys and meeting the fans (well not just meeting them, but forming bonds - friendships with the fans!)" - Kerrie

"If only the boys from Live could read that, I think they would be very, very proud of you." - Stormchild

"If i had some cookies i'd give them all to ya!" - SimpleCreed5

Now, I'm not a huge cookie fan, but I really think it's assignments like these that make Uni worthwhile - not only do we get to study something we're passionate about, but we get to make friends in the process. As I said, it's not the mark that counts now - I know what I learnt (regardless of what made it to the page) and I'm happy with it. So, too, are those whom it was written about. What more can we ask of our studies?

Thinking, thinking...

2004-04-25T14:06:00.000+10:00

Hmmm, so... I haven't really come up with any focus yet for the second assignment. I guess the fact that the Weblog thing came about the same day as the essay outline kinda makes for a slow start. I really need a few days to consider my topic.

Me being me, though, I'm gonna go to my other extreme this time and do something unashamedly "POP"... I did the "rock" thing for the first assignment (for which I had major information overload in the end - so sorry Jean!) so some balance is good, methinks. By the way, if anyone happens to be a fan of the band Live and enjoys posting on message boards, I would really recommend getting involved in the official Live forum, Straight Outta York. These guys really are a great bunch of people and I've made some friends for life studying them as a "music subculture". For a site based in Pennsylvania, it's remarkably "local" to Brisbane and other East-Coast Australian areas.

Anyway, for the second essay, I might focus somehow on the way online communities and fan sites can influence the media and sales surrounding certain pop acts, especially in Britain where chart positions and tabloid gossip are everything. For example, it's amazing how often the press take some "news" from Kylie Minogue fan site, Limbo, and its discussion board, SayHey, and affect the reputation of Ms. Minogue. This, in turn, seems to affect sales, which I find kind of curious. How can it be that fans have such influence in this age of the internet?

Of course, this is just a start, but we'll see how I go... Any suggestions would be more than welcome!

Linking!

2004-04-21T11:18:00.000+10:00

Well, here I am in my Blogging tutorial and I'm gonna test my all-important linking abilities! Exciting stuff...

So, despite the fact I've not even read the site, let's go here... to the first Google result for "Pop Music".

Post #1

2004-04-21T01:21:00.000+10:00

This is my first post for a blog that will be used for a University course called "Music Subcultures & the Media".

I'll no doubt use it primarily for research purposes but, as the title implies... who knows what I may come up with?